This article reprinted from Edmonton's Mosaic magazine, reflects the experience of just one of the many patients who have found relief for their conditions through treatment by Ms. Strong.  It answers many common questions about acupuncture,  and what you - as a patient - can expect when you visit our clinic.

(Part 1 of 5)

Cathy's* call came in the midst of a typically hectic day treating patients in my Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture clinic. She was ecstatic and had to share incredible news with me.

Cathy had just returned home from her ophthalmologist's office, where she had learned, much to everyone's delight and amazement, that she no longer had any signs of glaucoma. None. In fact, her readings had dropped from 28/29 to 13 in both eyes!

Glaucoma is normally controlled through prescription eye drops. Cathy wanted to try a natural medical approach first, and so had been treated with acupuncture for the previous eight months.

During the treatments, primarily using points in her hands, she reported feeling activity in her eyes. How can acupoints in the hands affect the eyes? Ancient Chinese secret? Well, not exactly.

 More like ancient Chinese medical science at work in the modern world.

The History of Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine (including herb formulae and acupuncture, among other treatment modalities) has been used successfully for at least 3,500 years to diagnose, treat and prevent illness.

The pre-eminent acupuncture text, Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic on Internal Medicine) was written about 2,000 years ago. It describes a system of 14 channels or meridians which run throughout the body, and 365 acupoints precisely mapped along these channels.

Modern doctors of acupuncture also use extra points (off channel points, some discussed in ancient times, some modern), as well as systems which are complete mappings of body structures and functions on the outer ears, the nose, the scalp, on hands, feet, wrists and ankles.

In ancient China, complex irrigation systems were essential to this largely agrarian population. Thus, prior to the development of microscopes and the practice of autopsies, then invisible internal bodily functioning was described in terms of the visible world - waterways and irrigation systems.

 Doctors envisioned meridians or canals running throughout the body carrying qi (pronounced chee) , roughly translated as "life force" , just as the irrigation systems carried water. And just as a fallen tree or a rockslide can block the flow of water in a stream, so can an injury, poor lifestyle habits, prolonged exposure to bad weather, or even poor genetics block the proper flow of qi in the body's channels.

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How can acupoints in the hands affect the eyes? Ancient Chinese secret? Well, not exactly.

*a pseudonym